PTI's Jahangir Tareen and PML-N's Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch.
According to reports, setting aside Multan election tribunal’s August 26 decision of putting a lifetime ban on PML-N candidate on contesting elections, the country’s apex court ordered re-polling in the constituency.
If ban is removed: SC asks if Siddique is ready to contest by-poll
Talking to media outside the SC, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate from Lodhran Jahangir Tareen accepted the top court’s decision saying his party wanted to take the case to the “court of people”.
“We accept the decision of the Supreme Court and I will not comment on the order. However, the court’s decision has endorsed the stance of PTI regarding rigging in NA-154 Lodhran,” Tareen claimed. He added that his party will fight by-polls and will secure a historic win in the constituency.
In response to a question, the PTI leader said, “We are still verifying the voters list and will soon go to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over the misplacement of votes in NA-122 by-polls”.
Local governments: PML-N, PTI set to battle it out in Lodhran
However, the PTI secretary general said despite the party’s reservations on the electoral body’s conduct it will not boycott the upcoming local government elections. “We urge the ECP to use biometric system in the upcoming local government elections.”
Meanwhile, PML-N’s Siddique Baloch told the media that he was “very happy” after the SC’s decision. “It has been due to the mismanagement of the electoral staff and not because of my incompetence that the court ordered re-polling in my constituency,” Baloch said, adding he will take part in the by-polls.
Top court displeased with PTI reaction to stay order
Baloch, who contested elections as an independent candidate but joined the PML-N after the victory was debarred from contesting elections in the future by an election tribunal in Multan. He had defeated Tareen in the 2013 general elections.
NA-154 is one of the four National Assembly constituencies where PTI Chairman Imran Khan had called for vote audit before launching his long march and dharna against the PML-N government.
Following his disqualification, Baloch had approached the apex court, which granted him a stay against the tribunal’s verdict on September 29.
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